Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
LuckyPink
climber
the last bivy
|
|
so I have ordered two books not yet arrived:
"The Story of the Inyo" by Willie Arthur Chalfant, a classic reprint.. and
"Freedom Climbers: The Golden Age of Polish Climbing, Legends and Lore" by Bernadette McDonald
I'm also looking for suggestions in Irish history for some indeterminate supraconscious impetus defying all logic, most likely having to do with the pain meds I'm using today..
and btw what are your favorites in California history of the west? I did see Tobia's list on the fur trade.. damn interesting I'll check them out
|
|
BigB
Mountain climber
Sin City
|
|
Great Exploration Hoaxs....
interesting but dry.
The Tower by K Cordes...
good read re: Cerro Torre
|
|
Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
|
|
The Martian by Andy Weir. Started, kept me up late, finished in the morning. Fabulous good fun.
|
|
Tobia
Social climber
Denial
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 9, 2015 - 08:07am PT
|
I got lost in the ozone and didn't read for awhile.
I finished Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl recently. An autobiography, like no other I have read.
Roger Brown's posting of Enemy At The Gates made me want to read it, as I haven't read a book centered on that front during WW II. R.B.'s comments are spot on.
Both of the above books make me realize how easy my life has been, each trivializing my life circumstances despite my perception of them.
When I wrap that book up I have purchased two books by "Tacoians" to read, more on those later.
|
|
Adventurer
Mountain climber
Virginia
|
|
DEEP SOUTH by Paul Theroux
|
|
MikeL
Social climber
Seattle, WA
|
|
The Smart Growth Manual.
Unbounded Wholeness.
|
|
jogill
climber
Colorado
|
|
The Weapon by David Poyer.
his Dan Lenson novels are fascinating.
|
|
Tobia
Social climber
Denial
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 20, 2015 - 05:55pm PT
|
I wrapped up Enemy at the Gates today. William Craig's Prologue ends with the following sentences in the last paragraph:
Brutality, sadism, and cowardice are undeniably prominent in the story. Jealousy, overriding ambition and callousness to human suffering occur with shocking frequency... What happens is not pleasant reading. No book that deals with widespread slaughter can be.
I read some chapters more than once because it was hard to believe what I had just read.
I started A Stance of Wonder by Mark Rodell this afternoon. The first few pages seem promising and I am sure it will be pleasant reading.
↓Nita, no problem. Send me a mailing address.
|
|
nita
Social climber
chica de chico, I don't claim to be a daisy.
|
|
|
Oct 20, 2015 - 11:42pm PT
|
*
Tobia, by any chance do you loan out books?
I would like to read/ borrow ~ Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl..
ps..Mark Rodell is a good writer...Hope you enjoy his book.
|
|
Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
|
|
|
Oct 21, 2015 - 09:06am PT
|
sycorax and I have similar tastes in literature.
If you liked Heart of Darkness, check out N888er of the Narcissus. A dated title, which is unfortunate, but a terrific book. I remember absently mindedly reading it in the Atlanta airport and then realized some folks might not take kindly to me reading a book with that word in the title so I slyly tucked it away.
I just picked up Wind, Sand and Stars by St. Exupery again after a long lapse. Though it clearly has some touchy feely parts, when you get through those into the accounts of early aviation, it is riveting.
St. Exupery had an interesting life. Didn't know this when I first read it but, while I knew that St. Exupery disappeared in his plane. Rereading this book prompted me to check him out and found out that he lived in the U.S. for a couple of years during the WWII after the Nazis invaded France and attempted to persuade the U.S. to join the fight against Nazi Germany. He was actually on a recon mission for the Allies when his plane disappeared.
|
|
Bluelens
Social climber
Pasadena, CA
|
|
|
Oct 22, 2015 - 09:56pm PT
|
Second the rec for Conrad's N888er of the Narcissus found in some short story collections. It's almost a novella. A sea voyage returning home from India to Europe....with a fine company of sailors.
My all time favorite Conrad is Secret Sharer outstanding short story. Recommended at the US Naval Academy. A leadership story about the shadow side of self.
Last read Defending Beef by the Niman Ranch wife. Covers climate change, water, grazing, and a short but valuable chapter on the value of having in our nation children raised on farms, with animals and nature.
On deck: Life in Motion by Misty Copeland the ballerina from San Pedro in LA County with the outraged anti-stage mother who turned down full scholarships for her daughter at the best dance programs to keep her at home with her (nonwhite) family and culture.
|
|
jgill
Boulder climber
The high prairie of southern Colorado
|
|
|
Oct 22, 2015 - 10:11pm PT
|
Recommended at the US Naval Academy
David Poyer's Dan Lenson series was required reading at the US Naval Academy. His novels range from the heights of heroism to the depths of human behavior, and he is less than kind to high command.
|
|
Mark Rodell
Trad climber
Bangkok
|
|
|
Oct 25, 2015 - 08:51pm PT
|
Thank you Tobia.
Nita, you are very kind.
|
|
Tobia
Social climber
Denial
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 28, 2015 - 12:17pm PT
|
I finished A Stance Of Wonder within a couple of days of starting it. I enjoyed it, as much as I thought I would. Although it a fictional tale, a lot of the descriptive language involved in sculpting a reader's p Yosemite Valley, Tenaya Canyon, Cloud's Rest, places that burned into my soul, made me forget I was reading fiction. The same can be said of Camp 4 and the variety of personality types found in the climbing community.
I have never been to Thailand; but I feel like I have now.
|
|
Gerg
Trad climber
Calgary
|
|
|
Oct 28, 2015 - 12:30pm PT
|
Rondoy by David Wall
The Complete Tintin
|
|
stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
|
|
|
Oct 28, 2015 - 03:22pm PT
|
John, speaking of recommended reading in the military, have you read Once an Eagle by Anton Myrer? Another one that is highly regarded, and none too kind to high command and bureaucracy.
I'll have to try those Poyer books. I had read one or two of his Tiller Galloway diving thrillers and liked those.
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
|
Oct 28, 2015 - 03:46pm PT
|
Anybody interested in military history and, more importantly, Pentagon shenanigans
MUST read Boyd - The Fighter Pilot Who Changed The Art of War. The title
addendum is somewhat misleading in that while Boyd's impact on war fighting
is undeniable his greatest legacy might be the valiant, if marginally effective,
war he waged within the Air Force and Pentagon to further accountability and
just plain common sense. It is impeccably researched searing in its analyses.
Boyd's battles with the AF brass should be front page news today with the
Obama administration's announcement of the awarding of a contract to build
another in a long line of useless AF pet projects - a new long range nuke
bomber. WTF? If you read the book you will have to agree that the whole
existence of the Pentagon is twofold:
1. To build expensive weapons so
2. Retired generals and admirals can get nice high paying jobs after they
retire.
|
|
Tobia
Social climber
Denial
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Oct 29, 2015 - 07:19am PT
|
Reilly, thanks for posting above book. Sounds like something I would like to read.
I started Doug Robinson's The Alchemy Of Action today. I have always enjoyed reading Doug's posts on the historical threads here. I also have a background in exercise science; which makes his theory about brain chemistry during climbing and other physically demanding sports intriguing.
Has anyone else here read it?
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
|
Oct 29, 2015 - 08:33am PT
|
^^^ I grabbed an autographed copy in Bishop at that great little bookstore there but haven't
started it yet. It looks deep, I could be in trouble!
|
|
Tobia
Social climber
Denial
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Nov 10, 2015 - 06:09am PT
|
The Alchemy Of Action is a bold new look into the chemistry of our brains when we experience those heights in spirit and vision when stressing our bodies (and minds) in heavy duty action on granite, trails or asphalt.
The biochemistry of action is explained in layman's terms and easily understood. Dick Robinson put a lot effort into writing a book that made the science easily digestible and transferable to my own experiences.
Reilly, if you can fly a jet, you can easily handle this information. No "crankloon" stuff here.
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!